What could be the issue?

[cparka23]

It looks better, but you are getting some areas where the colors are blown out. I've arrowed them here.

You're shooting the files in 12-bit RAW but saving them in an 8-bit format. That means you're losing some data, and the saved image will appear blotchy in some very bright and very dark areas.

Next time, you need to tell Photoshop Elements (should be the same as my Photoshop) that you want to work with the image in 16-bit color space. Here's the menu to get to that.

Just select that before you start editing your pics next time, and then your images won't lose any data as you make your adjustments. Hope this helps a little. I can go into the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit if you are curious. :)

EDIT: the reason why my pics look pixelated is that I made them very low quality for a quick upload. nothing to do with the bit depth.

 

[gparr]

Actually, it's easier to set it to 16 bit in the RAW converter. Bottom left of the converter window. Set it to 16 bit as the default. Cparka, the areas you indicated are, more often than not, going to blow out, particularly with a dark coral such as the one he's shooting. They're white egg-crate, so it really doesn't matter whether it's actually white or blown. The important thing is to get the coral right and he appears to have done that.

I always process in 16 bit. You have no choice but to switch to 8 bit at the end, because jpg files are 8 bits.

Gary

 

[Reef Pets]

Casey - I appreciate it! I just hope to get more consistant..

Gary - It seems as if the RAW setting is the way to go, as you stated. I do have a lot of practicing to do with shooting in RAW. I plan to spend a lot of the day on Sunday shooting away... Thanks again!

 

[bluegrass]

I finally got a "little" better with RAW using Lightroom, but still not very good. Seems to be plenty of sharp folks here to help out though.

 

[Reef Pets]

Cparka - Thanks for pointing that out. I will have to look into that on elements. When I first opened the RAW image ther was a ton of spots like that around the coral, blue in color.

Gary - I am going to work on the converter and set it to 16 bit. So far on converting the image I am doing it the improper way, I am sure. After getting the photo where it needs to be I then go to view photo and from there it opens in the "standard" window of PhotoShop. at that point I am clixking on the X to close the window then I safe it as a JPEG.
I am going to read about it to get a better understanding on processing the file. Then I should be able to see where to save it in 16 bit.

 

[Reef Pets]

Casey - I check out your site al the time. I am hoping to consistantly get the quality photos that you take!

I finally got a "little" better with RAW using Lightroom, but still not very good. Seems to be plenty of sharp folks here to help out though.